" Let me see if, I heard you correctly? You would like me to release Ivy into your custody?"
He did hear him correctly. This thing. This unusual case. He will need all the help he can get. Who better to have help than the very person,who is an expert in this field? Who is without a doubt the most qualified person to help identify what had transpired with Jack Weintraub. The words she had spoken earlier couldn't have been any more truer. Mr Weintraub would not be the last person to have these symptoms. Would not be the last citizen of Gotham City to come across this illness. This disease. He just hoped he was wrong. Just hoped this illness Mr Weintraub had contracted isn't contiguous. If it is then it would only be a matter of time before a city wide panic would occur the moment more and more citizens flood the front entrance of the hospital with the very same symptoms.
" If this thing is contiguous as she may believe it is,I will need her expertise to stop it. Think about it,Doctor Wood. She may be the only one,who can stop this from spreading any further."
There was no other way he knew how to explain this to the disbelieving doctor,who leans back in his chair with his hands threaded in front of him with a thoughtful expression across his face. Surely the doctor must know how serious the situation is. Surely as a medical professional he must know how deadly the consequences could be if Ivy is proven to be correct about her assumptions. He could see the doctor just didn't want to believe it. Truth be told he didn't want to believe it either but sometimes the truth is a hard pill to swallow.
" Doctor?"
" Are you aware of the situation this would put me in? If my superiors were to find out, I authorized something like this without their written consent…."
" And I ensure you,Doctor,if this isn't stopped now there might not be any members of the board left to complain."
What is taking them so long!?
She couldn't understand what was taking them so long. Couldn't understand why she couldn't be part of their little private conversation. Instead she is forced to wait back here in the therapy room for them to return. Forced to sit idly by while an important conversation is taking place. A conversation she knew deep down was about her without her consent and she knew just what it is all about.
He may not have spoken the words but his eyes did all the talking. Her love. The Caped Crusader right now is vying and negotiating with Doctor Wood to release her into his custody. Most likely using the current situation to his advantage. A rather evil and vile thing to do but it is like he always says. Everyone has darkness lurking within them. It is if you can overcome the darkness that defies you.
And speaking of the man of the hour,slowly Ivy watches Batman approach her with Doctor Wood in tow. A doctor who looks rather distraught like he had just swallowed something sour. Especially by the sick and twisted forced smile he is trying to present that looks like more of a scowl.
" Ivy? With your permission,I would like to ask you to join us. There is something Batman would like to discuss with you."
A statement that barely leaves Doctor Wood's mouth before a wide smile comes across Ivy's face. Oh yes she knew exactly what they were looking to discuss with her and it suited her just fine.
" Of course Doctor."
" Another one down."
" Another one?"
" I'll show you. I'm Dr. Tom Gorai chief medical examiner."
Gotham General Hospital. How he wished he didn't know this place so well. Wished he didn't know this place like the back of his hand. How many times has he stepped foot inside of this building? Hundreds,perhaps even thousands of times? He couldn't remember but what he could remember is every one of those times wasn't for a social visit. Just like now. He had hoped the woman standing by his side was wrong. Hoped against hope that she was wrong in regards to her theory about more citizens contracting this illness but he was wrong. The proof is right there in front of him now.
" I imagine you can handle yourself,Batman in a morgue?"
He wished he could say he would have the same reaction as any common citizen of Gotham when entering this place but he would be lying. No,he has seen his fair share of these places. His fair share of graveyards and final resting places of the dead. Just like the one he is entering right now with Ivy following slowly behind him. A woman,Batman can see earning some rather nervous glances by the two medical professionals in the room.
" It's all right. She's with me working exclusively on this case. You are in no danger. Isn't that right,Ivy?"
He is right of course. These mammals are no threat to her. Present no danger to her so she will not harm them in any way so long as they don't provoke her. Even so she will play nice. Especially when there is so much at stake right now. This wasn't just some regular case. At least to her anyways. No this was a test. A test to prove herself to him. Prove to herself that she can truly change into something better with the biggest prize standing next to her right now. To have the ability to spend the rest of her life with the only man that will truly ever understand her pain. A man in time she knew would be able to take away her pain unlike the many doctors that have tried in the past. Just like how she knew with time if given the chance she would be able to do the same.
" Of course,I'm here on a special assignment. It's hard to believe but i'm only here to help."
Did she truly believe the doctors believe her words? Absolutely not and she couldn't really blame them either. She would be skeptical if she was in their shoes after witnessing some of the things she has done but no matter. Their opinions truly do not matter. They can choose to believe whatever they wish. In the end she knows what is the truth and what is fiction.
" That man you just brought in? He's manifesting the exact symptoms this poor fellow did an hour ago."
So she is right afterall. She wished she could say she feels better about the situation but that would be rather heartless of her. Despite how she may feel about them these pitiful mammals don't deserve this. Don't deserve to die like this.
" I've never seen anything like it. A complex poison,I think."
" Is it contagious?"
The million dollar question. If this is as serious as he may think it is then this would only be the start of the beginning. Soon even more bodies would start to pile up. Soon enough word will spread about this causing a city wide panic. He could only hope the news could be contained just long enough to find out who is responsible for doing this.
" If it was,I'd be lying next to him. But look at this. See those twisty strands in this enlargement x-ray? The poison snakes through the body and infects the brain. The victim exhibits a psychosis that escalates violently. They drop into a coma and die."
Very interesting. At least to her anyways as she circles around the body on the medical table that looks as though someone carved into him deeply these past few hours. The way the poison reacts so violently to the human body in a way her own toxins react to her unexpecting victims.
" What is it?"
" This poison,I recognize how it works. It's the same way my toxins react to the body only this poison makes the body react much more violently than my own. The brain is such a fragile thing to waste. What affects the brain ultimately affects the rest of the body. You see my toxins only make the victim believe what I want them to believe. This toxin however is different. Much like the toxins found inside of Crane's fear gas this poison causes the victims to be brought into an hallucation type of state. Only this poison is different. This poison doesn't just attack the brain. It attacks the nervous system as well shutting down every vital organ one at a time until the body shuts down. It's simply fascinating."
Coming to a complete stop Ivy glances back and forth between Batman and Doctor Gorai before deciding to focus solely on the former.
" Whoever did this knows exactly what they are doing. They know how these toxins work like the back of their hand. If what the evidence in front of us is any indication,it is only a matter of time before whoever did this strike again only this time on a much higher level."
Nodding his head in complete understanding just as he is about to respond, movement out of the corner of his eye catches Batman's attention. Movement coming from Doctor Goral's assistant who comes over handing the doctor a yellow folder before with a silent thanks Doctor Goral turns holding out the folder for Batman to take.
" Here,you'll need this more than we will. I would suggest talking to this poor man's widow. She is currently in one of our waiting rooms. Jessica will take you to her."
" He worked in the basement of a skyscraper. What a strange word. " Skyscraper." men want to reach high and scrape the sky,don't they?"
She couldn't agree with her anymore if she tried. Poor woman. A now widowed woman. What would become of this woman now,she wasn't sure. She could only hope for the best. It was the least she could hope for.
" My husband,he worked in the mailroom. Donald liked sorting the mail. He used to say " People are always happy to see their mail coming. Mail is hope." It was a glass skyscraper,a window for every office except the mailroom. Donald would come home and say " My eyes are hungry." But worst of all was that horrible Rob Berlin. He owned the building,and Donald used to say " It's like he dwells at the top of the world. He has more light than God. And I'm in a dungeon. It just wasn't fair. I met Donald for lunch today. We sat down to eat,and the first thing he said was " You're in my light."
You're in my light. A simple phrase that makes Ivy's eyes widen in shock while Batman takes notice from the widow's side. Those words. She knows those words. Those were her words for earlier. The first words spoken to Batman when he arrived at Arkham. It just had to be a coincidence. It just had to be right?
" He was more agitated than usual. He told me " Today I'm going to ask for a window. I'm going to ask for some light. " They told him no. so he set the mail on fire."
Now this is certainly interesting. The light. The reaction this man had at his request being denied. This hallucinogenic poison lurking in his veins. It is more powerful than she originally thought. Is more of a problem then she originally accounted for. Whatever reaction this poisoned had on him runs deep.
" And for the first time ever in that basement dungeon,there was plenty of light. Then he climbed as high as he could,so that he had a direct line to Berlin's glass office. He threw rocks at the windows. They all missed. But in just one hour my man shattered everything. His job,our life,he destroyed everything he loved. All for a little bit of light."
" Did she say her husband worked for Rob Berlin?"
Rob Berlin. A name he knows too well. The on duty financier to Dan Trimbel,the very man responsible for the large skyscraper being constructed on the outskirts of Gotham City. The most hated man in Gotham City,and for good reason. He should be hated. Should be despised for what he is doing. To enter a field he has no business in. To try and take life away. No man,should be able to play God. Not even The Batman.
" Yes, the financier."
She didn't need to guess how Batman feels about the man in question. The silent tone in his voice tells Ivy all she needs to know. Rob Berlin. She won't forget the name.
" Let's not mince words,Batman. The famous takeover,gut,devalue and pillage financier. Berlin's here. He just came in complaining of eyestrain. Says he's seeing spots. Could be the same toxin."
" Perhaps it was in something that mailman delivered to Berlin,something they both handled. First Weintraub,then Berlin,we're talking about two of the richest men in Gotham. Doctor Gorai, I'll need a printout of all patients exhibiting similar symptoms."
" Of course. But we've got a more urgent problem. This toxin, it has botanical qualities. Some plant,some agricultural shipment could be the carrier. Finding an antidote is beyond this hospital's ability."
" But not mine."
Instantly feeling both of their eyes on her with a confident look Ivy strides forward to stand by Batman's side as she looks Doctor Goral in the eyes. Oh yes this is beyond this hospital's ability but not hers. Not with her knowledge. Not with how she knows just how well every single deadly poison and toxin in the world works.
" I will find an antidote. If push comes to shove, I will use even some of my own if necessary to find a cure. I won't let anyone else die from this."
Such a beautiful night. The full moon shining down upon them giving out this romantic setting. A moon,she never thought she would be able to see for quite some time like this. The coolest of breezes making its way through the city giving the relief needed on this hot summer night. A breeze that feels so wonderful on her skin giving her pleasant goosebumps up and down her spine. A night just full of surprises. Full of chances to prove herself not only to herself but to the man by her side.
The Dark Knight. How she understands why he was given this nickname now. The way he looks so intimidating under the moonlight. Looks so mysterious even to the naked eye. A man,she knew how he feels about her right now. The way he just looked at her with silent pride in his eyes when she declared she would find a cure for whatever is spreading around the city. Not that it would be much trouble. At least to her anyways. She once said she is the perfect cure for everything and soon enough he will find that out personally himself.
But that will come later. Right now she remains content just standing here in silence by his side,but that doesn't mean she can't get even more comfortable. She just needed to take what she wants and with her mind made up scooting closer to his side, reaching out Ivy grabs a hold of Batman's arm and hugs his arm close to her chest as she brings her head down to gently rest against his shoulder while letting her eyes close knowing fully well she is in safe hands. Oh yes she can get used to this. From afar many might scream in terror at what they would see. Would think she has ensnared him somehow. In a way she has. Just not the way they think.
" Pamela?"
" Hmmm?"
" Can you tell me about the contagion?"
Oh yes the dynamic of their relationship has changed. Those words alone spoke volumes of it. From past history he would have never asked of such a thing. Instead he would have demanded the answers he seeks. She has seen it first hand.
" Of course. The glow is what interests me. Describe it again."
" Why?"
" Just humor me. I like to hear your voice,now tell me."
Smiling faintly at her perfectly content smile despite her eyes staying firmly closed nodding his head slightly slowly Batman reaches around to wrap an arm around Ivy's waist and pulls her even closer to his side.
" Alright, it was like a haze of dust,but bright. Just like when you drag your foot on the beach at night,and the sand shimmers with phosphorescence."
" Ummm, some plants,secrete poisons,and just as the antidote to a snakebite lies in the snake's venom the curative to this toxin could be within the toxin. Poison,before it kills you,can radicalize the body's defense systems. It's rather simple. Opposites stimulate. The poison inspires the antibodies. Sometimes a toxin,in a denatured form,is what instigates health.
Think of your line of work. A vicious act can provoke a heroic response in you. And yet,conversely,the brilliance of your heroism can incite a criminal to barbarity and on and on,vice versa,in an endless cycle."
He had to give it to her. She was right. The metaphor works perfectly. Everytime someone causes trouble in the city,he comes running as though something is calling him. What seems to be an endless cycle. He just hoped she was wrong about that. Just hoped one day there will be no need for him to ever wear the cowl ever again. Just hoped he would see the day,The Batman would never be needed again.
" Do you think it can ever be broken? This endless cycle."
Opening her eyes tilting her head slightly so that she can look up to his face with a smile reaching up Ivy lays a hand down gently on Batman's cheek.
" I like to think so. You just have to have the courage to reach out and take what you want in life. Tell me,Batman,do you have the courage to reach out and grasp what you want?"
A challenge that barely escapes her lips before Ivy's eyes widen in shock when Batman pulls her into his chest in a swift motion and brings his head down pressing his lips into her own. This sudden kiss that takes her a few seconds to respond to as her arms snake around the back of his neck while her lips curl up into the widest of smiles before after what seems like eternity she breaks off the kiss and lets her eyes close shut once again with a content sigh escaping her lips.
" Is that good enough?"
Nodding her head opening her eyes seeing a faint smile across Batman's face feeling her lips curling up into a smirk tightening her hold around the back of his neck,Ivy leans back forward before stopping within centimeters from his lips.
" We'll see, now come. The sooner we save this city,the sooner you can prove this theory to me."
Robinson Park. So many memories in this park. Memories of coming here with his parents. Memories of Alfred bringing him and teaching him how to fly a kite. Cherished memories. Such memories children should be sharing with their parents. But not now. Not with what he is seeing. This skyscraper,it is sucking the life out of the air. No citizens wandering through the park. No signs of life anywhere,except in one part of the park. A section of the park no one dares adventure into. A section of the park where a lone greenhouse can be seen.
A greenhouse long thought to have been abandoned but not on this night. On this night nothing but life could be seen lurking around inside if you were to get close enough. Vines writhing around as though standing on guard. Flowers blossoming happily from their mistress returning. A mistress hard at work examining blood samples one after another with the occasional note being written down while another watches her work silently from afar not daring to disturb her.
" Okay,I'm finished analyzing the blood samples from each of the victims. The bad news first. This is a genetically altered substance we're talking about. It's not a natural mutation."
" What exactly does that imply?"
Letting out a sign retracting her eyes from the scope in front of her to rub at her tired eyes turning her attention to look at Batman,Ivy leans back against the table with her arms coming up to cross over her chest.
" It means someone did this on purpose. We're not talking about a bad batch of vegetables anymore. We're talking murder. The possibilities for a cure are many,but the answer is finite. I have to test them all,but i'm confident I will have an antidote within minutes."
He really had to give it to her. Every single time she is motivated to do something,she always accomplishes her tasks. The way she always has a stranglehold on the city whenever she is up to no good. The way she always seemed to be one step ahead of him during every single encounter,they've shared. Just like now. From the way her eyes have looked so focused and confident the moment she started analyzing the samples. If he didn't know any better,she already has a good feeling of just what the right ingredients are needed to stop this poison,and he is soon proven correct when Batman witnesses a rather bizarre sight. The way Ivy gently brings up one of the medical tabs and presses her lips gently to the glass causing a smear of the blood sample to splatter against her lips. A sight that confuses him for a few moments before his eyes widen in realization when he sees her gently rubbing the blood off from her lips with a medical swab and places the swab back underneath her scope with her eyes quickly coming back to glance at him with a smirk.
" If my findings are correct,this should cure anyone with the same symptoms."
Motioning him over with her right hand scooting over to allow him to take a look as she sees Batman disappearing underneath the microscope a wide smile comes across Ivy's face.
" See? Now look at Mr Weintraub's blood sample,then at the cotton swab. Look closely at the cell configuration. These two samples are like siblings. In the poison is the cure. You see,the poison on my lips is the antidote."
Allowing herself a moment to look on with nothing but a content smile after a couple of seconds the smile disappears from Ivy's lips into nothing but a scowl.
" But this still doesn't answer just who is responsible for all of this. I can only speculate on just who is responsible,but i don't have any concrete evidence."
Retracting his head from the microscope as he gives her a questionable look Batman watches Ivy turn to give him a small glare.
" And who do you have in mind? Judging from your tone,you know this person very well."
Too well for her liking. She wished it wasn't this way but she knew better. Nothing ever goes her way. Especially since the moment she had first arrived in Arkham and had been assigned a new doctor of the facility. A man,who took a great deal of interest to her. Too much for her liking and now she knew why.
" I wish,I could say you're wrong but that's not the case. The man responsible for everything that is happening is the last person,anyone would ever suspect. You've met him personally. Rather recently in fact. Care to take a guess at just who,i'm talking about?"
Doctor Wood. Her personal doctor. One of the leading doctors inside of Arkham Asylum. A man,who was considered to have a great mind. Considered to be extremely intelligent by his peers. But the question is why? If he is responsible then why would he do such a thing? What is there for him to gain? A question that is on the tip of Batman's tongue before it dies when Ivy raises up her left hand silencing him.
" I know it's him. All the evidence points squarely at him. There are things you don't know about him. Do you know what his favorite therapy is? Denial therapy. He won't allow anyone to call me,Poison Ivy. Just like no one can call The Joker a joker,or refer to that fat penguin as The Penguin. I mean,look at them! It's absurd! The Joker is a joker! Two-Face is Two-Face! And I'm Poison! No matter how much,I wish this wasn't the case. Ontologically,biologically,quintessentially,irreducibly poison. It's not therapeutic to pretend otherwise it's delusional! It's like saying you're not a bat man,Batman."
" Why? Why would he do such a thing?"
" Because he's in love with me. He's obsessed with me. My flowers. He stole the very creations,I made to better the world for himself,and caused this. This poison. It came from my flowers. I'm sure of this now. It's a combination of the poisons,I used for my orchid rose hybrids and my fungus flowers."
" So what you are saying is,Doctor Wood,did this to gain your favor? Pamela,that's just…."
" I know but it's the truth. I didn't do any of this and deep down you know this as well. He is the one responsible. You haven't seen the way he looks at me,when we're alone. He's absolutely obsessed with me. He knew,I was upset when,I learned why there was no light coming into my cell. You saw it first hand yourself,how upset,I was. I may have done some bad things but i didn't do this. Even if they did take away my small piece of the sun from my cell window."
Allowing herself a few precious moments to calm herself down taking a long deep breath after a couple of seconds Ivy opens her eyes to stare into Batman's own with her facial features softening.
" And do you want to know why? It's because for the first time in a long time,I have something worth fighting for. I have something,I can cherish along with my plants. The rarest flower in the entire world,and I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers. I believe in you. All,I ask is for you to do the same."
" Doctor Wood?"
She couldn't be happier if she tried. How ironic this must seem to look. Her staring back from the other side of the cell at a man looking so defeated. A once respected man,now forever dishonored by his actions. She just wished she was there to see it. Just wished she was there to see this man arrested by The Batman. With the rumors going around about how this doctor came to be behind bars has left her quite satisfied. Rumors of him kicking and screaming when he was dragged out of his office. Rumors of how he had pissed himself from Batman's antics. Oh how she could go on and on,but she will remain content on listening silently to Doctor Wood's conversation with Batman while she stays out of sight from the man's view.
" Why Doctor Wood?"
" Why? I didn't even really know I did it. The shadow of that tower disturbed her. I heard her talking about flowers that could kill. I must have done it as an act of love."
" Now murder is an act of love? Forgive my lack of sympathy for that one,Doctor."
" I guess,I was trying so hard to get to the root of her unconscious wishes. I forgot,I had a few of my own."
She wished she could say she feels sorry for the man,but deep down she doesn't. This man,no this murderer has exactly what he has coming to him. Perhaps now he will see the true error of his ways? Perhaps now he will find out just why certain patients in this asylum have been given certain names that are to be respected. Who knows? It just might save his life someday.
" Hey! Ivy's leaving!"
" See ya later Red!"
" We'll miss you."
" Take it easy doll."
Ah the last parting words of her fellow inmates. Hopefully to never hear those voices ever again. Yes today is the day. The day she finally walks out of this place and she could only thank one man for that. What his alter ego had said to the board member's of the facility,she still did not know. Whatever was said had brought immediate results. Her release from this place. A day,she never thought would come but has,and she couldn't be happier. Now she walks down these halls with her head held high. Walks down these halls knowing she will never have to step foot inside of this facility ever again. This silent walk with nothing but a guard escort walking with her through the building while she remains in a daze with nothing but a smile on her face.
This daze that before long Ivy snaps out of the moment she hears the sound of a door closing behind her and this bright light coming from up above shines brightly down at her making her look up with her smile widening. A light coming from the bright sun hovering up above with no shadows in sight. At least not yet. Even with the disgusting skyscraper still being constructed in the distance but they'll work on that. He promised her,and they will win in the end.
And speaking of him,looking away from the sun as her eyes come back forward instantly a wide smirk comes across Ivy's face when she sees a car parked just outside of the gates of Arkham Asylum with a man waiting outside looking back at her with a faint smile.
Reaching up rubbing away the beads of sweat threatening to drip down from her forehead gently picking back up her pail to continue water some nearby plants hearing the sound of silent footsteps coming from behind not even bothering to hide the smile coming across her face the moment she comes to stand instantly a bright smile comes across Ivy's face when she feels a pair of arms gently wrapping around her from behind before her smile widens even further when a pair of lips kiss the side of her neck.
" Beautiful."
Glancing over her shoulder as she sees Bruce smiling widely at her returning the smile reaching down Ivy rests her hands down on top of his own and leans back in his brace with a content sigh escaping her lips.
" Just wait until the sun goes down. You'll see for yourself just how beautiful they are."
Her beautiful fungus plants. Her beautiful field of fungus plants. She can't wait to see them shine so brightly under the moonlight. Can't wait to reveal this beautiful creation to the world. A world not yet ready for this but soon they will be. Just like the most precious of flowers, everything becomes more beautiful with the proper time and care.
" I wasn't talking about the plants."
Snapping her head to look back at Bruce's smiling face reaching up Ivy pulls his head down with her right hand and brings him into a kiss causing him to pull her even more into his chest.
" Think my two ladies,can manage an afternoon without me?"
Rolling her eyes looking down as she can feel Bruce gently starting to rub at her three week pregnant belly bringing her hands back down to hold his hands in place a bright smile comes across Ivy's face.
" Rose and I will be just fine. Just do me a favor,and give them hell. Don't let that bastard Trimbel get to you. He knows he has no case and by tomorrow morning the city will learn about the consequences for trying to take away the light."
Smiling down at her kissing the top of her head gently Bruce lays his head down on Ivy's shoulder and looks straight ahead as he feels her head gently coming down to rest against his own.
" I will,I promise."
Feeling her gently nodding her head against his own tightening his grip around her waist slightly leaning down Bruce whispers into Ivy's ear causing her eyes to shutter shut the moment she feels his hot breath touching her ear.
" Pamela?"
" Hmmm?"
" Marry me?"
Snapping her eyes open the moment she feels his grip around her waist disappear snapping around with wide eyes instantly Ivy freezes on the spot with her eyes going as wide as saucers when she sees Bruce down on one knee holding out an open black box with his left hand revealing the most beautiful green ring she has ever seen.
" Pamela…."
" Yes."
A whisper that is barely heard before Ivy bursts from her spot and pounces on Bruce causing him to fall down on his back with her on top as she brings him into a deep kiss. A sight that is seen by all as flowers all around blossom open with happy sighs. As the fungus plants glow brightly happily. A light that goes unnoticed as Bruce and Ivy stare happily into each other's eyes before they bring each other into another kiss with the ring all but forgotten.